How Often to Water a Pothos? Master the Correct Watering Frequency
Pothos, also known as devil's ivy, golden pothos, and golden vine, is a large evergreen climbing plant of the genus Epipremnum. It grows in tropical regions, often climbing over rocks and tree trunks in rainforests. It not only has high ornamental value but also effectively absorbs harmful gases such as formaldehyde from the air, which is why it is so popular. However, improper watering during cultivation can cause yellow leaves, root rot, and other problems. Let's take a look below at how often to water a pothos!
How often should you water a pothos?
During the growing season, the principle for watering pothos is to keep the potting soil moist at all times. Be sure not to water it with rice water. Although rice water contains nutrients that can be used, it must be composted, fermented, and fully rotted before use; otherwise, it will not only easily breed pests but in severe cases can also cause root rot. In summer, when temperatures are higher, pothos grows vigorously and has a larger water demand, so it needs watering about every 2 days. In autumn and winter, the amount of watering should be controlled according to the indoor temperature. When the room temperature is below 10 degrees, the soil of the plant evaporates more slowly, so watering should be reduced to once every 4 to 5 days. After heating is turned on, watering should also not be too frequent, once every 3 to 4 days.
How should you water a pothos properly?
When watering pothos, be careful not to pour water directly into the pot. Instead, first pour the water in slowly, and after it seeps down, spray evenly and wait for the water to penetrate. In addition, you should also spray water on the aerial root growth areas of the moss pole to reduce insufficient root water uptake caused by overly rapid evaporation. Watering must be thorough each time to maintain soil moisture. In the north, with an indoor temperature above 10°C, pothos can safely overwinter, and with an indoor temperature above 20°C, pothos can grow normally. When watering in winter, the water needs to be left indoors for a day first, and once it is basically the same as room temperature, then water, so that the water is not too cold and damages the pothos roots.
How should you grow a pothos properly?
1. Light: Pothos does not have a strong tendency to grow toward light. However, in autumn and winter in the north, to supplement the lack of temperature and photosynthesis, the light intensity should be increased. At the same time, when the temperature is low, try to open windows as little as possible, because in a very short time the leaves may be frostbitten.
2. Humidity: Pothos grows faster in environments with higher air humidity. It is recommended to maintain indoor humidity. You can use a humidifier to increase air humidity, or cover the plant with a transparent plastic bag to create a mini greenhouse effect, but this should not exceed two hours.
3. Temperature: Pothos is very sensitive to temperature. If the temperature is too low, it is easily frostbitten. A room temperature of around 20 degrees is sufficient. If heating equipment is turned on, the pothos leaves should not be too close to it. Keeping the indoor temperature above 10 degrees is enough for it to safely get through winter.
4. Fertilizing: Because pothos grown indoors absorbs nutrients less abundantly than outdoors, it is recommended to apply fertilizer once every half month. You can buy fertilizer specially made for pothos on the market. Or ask the flower shop owner to help choose fertilizer.
5. Pests and diseases: Pothos plants are very susceptible to problems from pests and pathogens. Typical pests affecting pothos include mealybugs, red spider mites, scale insects, and so on. Mealybugs are usually the most common, and alcohol can be used to kill them, remove them with a cotton swab, or take them out by hand.
6. Shaping: Shaping and pruning of pothos is carried out in spring. When the stems and vines have covered the moss pole and the tips extend about 20 cm beyond the moss pole, cut off 40 cm of the stem tips of 2 to 3 of the plants. After new buds and new leaves sprout following the cutback, then cut off the stem tips of the remaining plants.